Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute

What Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute does

Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), established February 3, 1947, is a government research institute under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, headquartered in Kochi, Kerala. The institute conducts marine biodiversity research, stock assessment, and mariculture technology development across six divisions (Fishery Resources Assessment, Finfish Fisheries, Shellfish Fisheries, Mariculture, Marine Biotechnology, and Marine Biodiversity & Environment Management), operating the only Geo-referenced Marine Fisheries Resources Information System for the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone and the proprietary Stratified Multistage Random Sampling Method for estimating fishery catch along India's 8000+ km coastline. CMFRI employs 501-1000 staff across a national footprint of 4 Regional Centres, 7 Regional Stations, and 2 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) that deliver technology transfer to coastal fishing communities. The institute commercializes a portfolio of 11 Cadalmin nutraceutical products (seaweed and mussel-derived formulations for diabetes, arthritis, hypertension, dyslipidemia, hypothyroidism, osteoporosis, and immune support) through licensing partnerships with five companies including Pioneer Pharmaceuticals, VLCC Personal Care, and Accelerated Freeze Drying Company, distributed via Amazon, Flipkart, and 1mg.com. Revenue is primarily government-funded through ICAR allocations with supplementary licensing royalties from nutraceutical commercialization and technology transfer fees via the Agricultural Technology Information Centre (ATIC) and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs). Digital offerings include the Shark Aware mobile app for protected shark and ray species identification, Fish Watch for near real-time daily landings monitoring at major fisheries harbours, and the Eprints@CMFRI institutional repository hosting peer-reviewed research publications.

Name

Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute

Legal name

Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI)

Website

https://cmfri.org.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

1947

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) is an ICAR-affiliated government research institute conducting marine fisheries research, mariculture technology development, and marine biodiversity monitoring across India's 8000+ km coastline, while commercializing 11 nutraceutical products through licensing partnerships with private companies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Fisheries Research

NAICS

Aquaculture (11251), Finfish Farming and Fish Hatcheries (112511)

SIC

Fishing, Hunting And Trapping (900)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYAFAEAAAN

Aquaculture Processing & On-Farm Value-Add (primary handling, icing, packing)

Agriculture & Food Production/Animal Production & Aquaculture/Aquaculture (Fish & Shellfish Farming)

SECONDARYBPAIAMAI

Coastal & Marine Resources Administration (Oceans, Fisheries, Shorelines)

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Environmental Protection & Natural Resources Administration

SECONDARYCRADAFAL

Fish & Aquatic Feed (ornamental)

Consumer Products & Retail/Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) Manufacturing & Brands/Pet Food & Treats

Keywords

• Marine fisheries research
• Marine biodiversity assessment
• Mariculture technology
• Marine nutraceuticals
• Fisheries stock assessment

Headquarters

HQ city

Kochi

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices14 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Funding (ICAR): ICAR-CMFRI is a research institute under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India. The institute operates primarily on government funding for its research activities, with no direct revenue model as a public research institution.
2. Nutraceutical Product Commercialization: CMFRI commercializes its Cadalmin nutraceutical product line through licensing agreements with companies including Pioneer Pharmaceuticals Limited, Accelerated Freeze Drying Company Pvt. Ltd., VLCC Personal Care Ltd, Chazah/Pluviago Private Limited, and Emineotech Private Limited. Products are sold through Amazon, Flipkart, 1mg.com, and company outlets.
3. Technology Transfer & Consultancy: The institute offers PME & Consultancy services and technology transfer through its Agricultural Technology Information Centre (ATIC) and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) for dissemination of breeding, hatchery, and mariculture technologies to coastal communities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

ICAR-CMFRI conducts marine fisheries research across 6 divisions (Fishery Resources Assessment, Finfish Fisheries, Shellfish Fisheries, Mariculture, Marine Biotechnology, Marine Biodiversity & Environment Management) and delivers stock assessment, breeding and hatchery technologies, sea cage farming, diagnostic tools, and the Geo-referenced Marine Fisheries Resources Information System covering the Indian EEZ. It commercializes a family of 11 Cadalmin marine-derived nutraceutical products via licensing partners, distributes the Shark Aware mobile application via the Google Play Store, and operates Fish Watch for near real-time daily landings data at major Indian fisheries harbours.

Product overview

CMFRI operates as a marine fisheries research institute under ICAR, offering a portfolio of digital information services and commercialized nutraceutical products. The digital offerings include the Shark Aware mobile application for shark/ray species identification, Fish Watch for near real-time landing data at major Indian harbours, Fish Catch Estimates for EEZ monitoring, and an institutional digital repository (Eprints@CMFRI). The commercialized product line centers on the Cadalmin™ family of seaweed and mussel-based nutraceuticals addressing conditions including diabetes, arthritis, hypertension, dyslipidemia, hypothyroidism, osteoporosis, and immune support. These products are manufactured and distributed through licensing partnerships with companies including Pioneer Pharmaceuticals Limited, VLCC Personal Care Ltd, Accelerated Freeze Drying Company, Chazah/Pluviago Private Limited, and Emineotech Private Limited.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cadalmin Antidiabetic extract (ADe) Marine-derived seaweed nutraceutical for management of Type II diabetes, commercialized through licensing partner Pioneer Pharmaceuticals Limited and sold via Amazon, Flipkart, and 1mg.com.
• Cadalmin Antihypertensive extract (AHe) Seaweed-derived nutraceutical for management of hypertension, commercialized as Algamin-Tension-Ease and HealGrow for Tension-Relief.
• Cadalmin Green Mussel extract (GMe) - AFDC Musseltone Green mussel-derived nutraceutical formulated to combat joint pain and rheumatoid arthritis, commercialized as AFDC Musseltone and sold via direct company outlet on Willingdon Island, Cochin.
• Cadalmin Green Algal extract (GAe) Seaweed-based nutraceutical formulated to combat rheumatic arthritic pains.
• Cadalmin Antihypercholesterolemic extract (ACe) Seaweed-derived nutraceutical for management of dyslipidemia, commercialized in partnership with VLCC Personal Care Ltd.
• Cadalmin Antihypothyroidism extract (ATe) Seaweed-based nutraceutical formulated to combat hypothyroid disorders, commercialized in partnership with VLCC Personal Care Ltd.
• Cadalmin Antiosteoporotic extract (AOe) Seaweed-derived nutraceutical for treatment of osteoporosis, commercialized by Chazah (Pluviago Private Limited).
• Cadalmin Immunoboost extract (IBe) Seaweed-derived nutraceutical to improve the innate immune system, commercialized as Immune-boost extract by Chazah (Pluviago Private Limited).
• Cadalmin LivCure extract (LCe) Nutraceutical from seaweed to combat non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, commercialized as GreenRex-Love liver love life by Emineotech Private Limited.
• Cadalmin Immunalgin extract (IMe) Seaweed-derived antiviral immunity booster nutraceutical, commercialized as Immunalgin extract by Pioneer Pharmaceuticals Limited.
• Cadalmin Cardiocto extract (COe) Seaweed-based nutraceutical formulated to combat cardiohypertrophy, currently being commercialized.
• Shark Aware Mobile Application Mobile application for identifying protected and endangered shark and ray species, providing species identification features, legal protection status under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and conservation information. Targets fishermen, officials, researchers, and the general public.
• Fish Watch - Daily Landings System Near real-time information system providing daily estimates of marine fishery resource landings at selected major fisheries harbours in India, including quantity (in Kg) and price range (in Rupees/Kg) of auction.
• Fish Catch Estimates (Geo-referenced Marine Fisheries Resources Information System) Estimates of fish catch data from India's marine fisheries, part of the Geo-referenced Marine Fisheries Resources Information System for the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), utilizing Enhanced Survey Protocols and Methodological Platforms for Stock Assessment, Forecasting, and Ecosystem Modeling.
• Eprints@CMFRI Digital Repository Institutional digital repository hosting peer-reviewed journal articles, books, conference proceedings, technical reports, working papers, policy briefs, and other scholarly publications produced by CMFRI researchers across 6 research divisions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Captive breeding of threatened mangrove clam (Geloina erosa) — spat settlement recorded from the 18th day after spawning
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature10 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Pioneer Pharmaceuticals LimitedcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerPrimary commercialization partner for multiple Cadalmin nutraceutical products including Algamin-Diabet-Ease (antidiabetic), Algamin-Arthrit-Ease (anti-arthritic), Algamin-Tension-Ease (antihypertensive), and Immunalgin extract. Products distributed through Amazon, Flipkart, and 1mg.com. Contact: Mr. Mathew Simon ([email protected]), Mr. Joel Joby ([email protected]), GECO Trade Centre, Kochi.
• Accelerated Freeze Drying Company Pvt. Ltd. (AFD Company)coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerCommercialization partner for Cadalmin Green Mussel extract (AFDC Musseltone) - antiarthritic nutraceutical from green mussel (Perna viridis). Products sold through direct company outlet on Willingdon Island, Cochin-682003, Kerala. Contact: Mr Noufal (9995958615), [email protected]
• VLCC Personal Care LtdcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerCommercialization partner for Cadalmin Antihypothyroidism extract (ATe) and Cadalmin Antihypercholesterolemic extract (ACe) products. Corporate Office: 64, HSIIDC Sector 18, Maruti Industrial Area, Gurugram - 122015, India. Contact: Shri Sanjeev Purthi (R&D and Quality), [email protected]
• Chazah (Pluviago Private Limited)coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerCommercialization partner for Cadalmin Antiosteoporotic extract, Cadalmin Immunoboost extract, and Cadalmin Immunalgin extract. Production at Pluviago Private Limited, Sakshya Sadanam, 10th Mile Palamel, Nooranad P.O., Alappuzha-690504, Kerala. Contact: Mr Roy Rajan Abraham (Director), [email protected]
• Emineotech Private LimitedcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerCommercialization partner for Cadalmin LivCure extract (GreenRex-Love liver love life) for combating non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Located at Tabor, Mekadu, Chavara P.O., Kollam, Kerala-691583. Contact: Mr Evanjalist Pathrose (Managing Director), [email protected]
• Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent organization of ICAR-CMFRI. CMFRI joined the ICAR family in 1967 and operates under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India. ICAR provides overarching research direction, funding oversight, and institutional framework.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Central Institute of Fisheries Education: ICAR-affiliated fisheries education and research institution based in Mumbai. Directly comparable as a sibling ICAR fisheries institute with similar research, training, and technology transfer mandates, although focused more on education and inland fisheries.
• Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (CIBA): ICAR institute based in Chennai focused on brackishwater aquaculture including shrimp and finfish. Closely comparable as a sibling ICAR aquaculture research institute with shared mandate in breeding, hatchery technologies, and coastal aquaculture development.
• Fishery Survey of India: Government of India body responsible for marine fisheries resource surveys and stock assessment using research vessels. Directly comparable in marine fisheries data collection, vessel-based surveys, and Indian EEZ resource monitoring.
• National Institute of Oceanography (India): CSIR-affiliated marine research institute based in Goa covering oceanography, marine biology, and coastal processes. Comparable as a premier Indian government marine research institution with overlapping scope in marine biodiversity, environmental monitoring, and ocean resource assessment.
• WorldFish: International CGIAR-affiliated aquaculture and fisheries research organization with active programs in South Asia. Comparable as a publicly funded aquaculture research institute focused on sustainable fisheries, breeding technologies, and technology transfer to developing-country coastal communities.

Broad incumbents

• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries: U.S. government agency responsible for marine fisheries management, stock assessment, and marine resource science. Comparable as the national authority on marine fisheries data, regulatory science, and sustainable fisheries policy, but operating at much larger scale and scope.
• CSIRO Marine: Australia's national science agency marine research division covering sustainable fisheries, aquaculture, and ocean observation. Comparable as a government marine research organization combining fisheries science, aquaculture innovation, and environmental monitoring at national scale.
• Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR): CMFRI's parent apex body overseeing all Indian agricultural research institutes. Comparable as the umbrella organization that funds, governs, and coordinates CMFRI alongside dozens of other crop, livestock, and fisheries research institutes.
• Ifremer: French national institute for marine research covering fisheries science, aquaculture, and ocean observation. Comparable as a publicly funded European marine research organization with similar mandates in stock assessment, marine biotechnology, and aquaculture technology development.

Regional players

• Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation: Inter-governmental organization supporting small-scale fisheries in the Bay of Bengal region including India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Maldives. Comparable as a regional fisheries development body focused on coastal community livelihoods, technology transfer, and sustainable small-scale fisheries.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ICAR_CMFRI
• Facebookfacebook.com/icarcmfrikochi
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/icar-central-marine-fisheries-research-institute

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute